2003 Hyundai Santa Fe: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe: 4 recalls, 308 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #03V520000 · 2003 · 249,309 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Why it matters: The tire pressure labels do not contain the information required by the standard.
The fix: Owners will be provided with a correct label and installation instructions. Owner notification began on October 29, 2003. Owners should contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #04V131000 · 2004 · 17,401 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5 liter v-6 engines, 4-wheel drive and antilock braking systems (ABS), if the brake pedal is depressed at speeds between 3 and 12 mph when the brake pad friction surfaces are wet, a vibration May occur between the brake discs and pads causing ABS sensor electronic signal noise to develop. At speeds below 5 mph, the ABS sensor signal noise May cause the ABS electronic…
Why it matters: If an extended stopping distance occurs, it could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ABS ECU. Owner notification began on March 24, 2004. Owners should contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Suspension Vehicle recall #09V123000 · 2009 · 83,355 vehicles
What's wrong: Road salt applied in these jurisdictions during the winter months May result in progressive, internal corrosion of the rear trailing arms, which could lead to thinning or perforation of the rear trailing arm steel. Owners May see or feel slight to moderate changes in vehicle operation which will increase if the vehicle is not repaired. These changes include a lowering of vehicle height that can lead to tire…
Why it matters: If the corrosion is allowed to progress, the rear trailing arm May fracture while driving, thereby increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rear trailing arms for internal corrosion damage. If specified levels of corrosion damage are found, the rear trailing arms will be replaced. Rear trailing arms that do not require replacement will have drainage holes added and will be treated with rust-proofing material to…
Suspension Vehicle recall #14V435000 · 2014 · 271,773 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.
Why it matters: If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 5 mention a fire, 20 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Suspension (56): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (26), noise or vibration (12).
- Airbags (42): the most common themes are warning light on (16), fails to deploy (10).
- Transmission & drivetrain (35): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (15), stalls / loses power (6), noise or vibration (5).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (31): the most common themes are noise or vibration (12), brake failure / soft pedal (12).
The 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe has 308 owner complaints, ranking #8 of 26 Santa Fe model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 295). Complaints peaked in 2004 (31 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 80,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (165 complaints, 4 recalls), 2004 (303 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 17 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe problems?
Owners have filed 308 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are suspension (56), airbags (42), transmission & drivetrain (35).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.